William Lane running for Goshen First Selectman seat

GOSHEN >> Selectman William Lane, if endorsed by the Democrats, plans to run for the town's top seat: first selectman.

Current First Selectman Wilrose Duquette, a Republican, announced in May that he will not attempt to retain the position.

Lane, according to Democratic Town Committee chairman Ned Bixler, is all but a lock to be endorsed by the Democratic Party at the July 23 caucus, which will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Recreation Office at the Goshen Town Hall.

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The Republican Party's caucus will be the same night: July 23, at 8 p.m. in the Goshen Elementary School cafeteria.

"I'm familiar with small business; I'm familiar with the issues in the town," Lane said. "I'm as fiscally conservative as any of my Republican colleagues on the Board of Selectman."

Lane, 58, an attorney with offices in Goshen and Waterbury, served on the Planning and Zoning Commission from 2009 to 2011 before being elected as a selectman for the past two years.

"I love the town and I've gotten a better appreciation of it serving on the Board of Selectmen," he said.

Lane noted that he thinks someone with experience on the Board would be the best fit for the town. This last term, with three "rookies," Lane said that the lack of experience in the town "slowed us down a little bit."

"We did a good job, I'm not criticizing anybody, but it helps the town to have some sort of continuity on the Board of Selectmen," he said.

The Republican nominating race is less clear, with former First Selectman Robert Valentine battling newcomer Lee Breakell, nephew of former first selectman Thomas Breakell. The Republican caucus will also be held on July 23.

"We always seem to run one candidate and the same candidate over and over again. I think it's time for some new vision, some change," Lee Breakell said.

Following Valentine's eight year tenure as first selectman from 2003 to 2011, Goshen's top seat has seen some turnover.

Valentine initially neglected to run in 2011 to return to his business, Village Blacksmith Shop, which he has run since 1980. Valentine also said part of the reason he didn't seek re-election was because he saw that Thomas Breakell, a selectman at the time, showed an interest.

Thomas Breakell won the 2011 election and held the job until August 2012, when he stepped down to take a manager's position with Arethusa Farm in Litchfield. Duquette, who had been convinced by Breakell to run for selectman, now found himself in the top seat.

Duquette said he took the position with the intent to serve out Breakell's term, but found it difficult to do so, seeing how much he enjoyed the job. Ultimately, Duquette decided not to run so that he could spend more time with his family and travel.

The Democratic Town Committee is trying to get more people to the caucus and more participation, Bixler said. He said that he is sure the committee will endorse a candidate for selectman.

"Other than [the Board of Finance] it looks like all of the incumbent democrats are going to run again," Bixler said, noting that they are still figuring things out with the BOF. He said some of these positions will be contested in caucus.

For questions regarding the Democratic caucus, contact Bixler at 491-4975. For questions regarding the Republican caucus, contact John Morris, 860-693-0757.